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Sunday, March 5, 2017

Terminal Nation Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?

Stan: Of course, We are Terminal Nation a hardcore band from Little Rock, Arkansas. Our music can be best described as short, fast, and pissed off. We started back in 2014. I wanted to start a band that was just no frills, fast hardcore and things kind of spun off from there.

2.How would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recordings?

Stan: All of our recordings to date have taken influence from NYHC bands like Breakdown and Agnostic Front but also the early west coast powerviolence. I wanted to start a hardcore band, but I wanted it to be more punk than metal. Our sound kind of started to evolve a little more since then.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

Stan: I try to keep a ridiculously broad spectrum of subjects in the songs. We have songs about hating your job, a song about a deadbeat dad who won’t take responsibility for his children, a song about the monopoly of the healthcare industry, a song about Freddy Kruger, a song about shitty/crooked cops. I think we touch some stuff that a lot of bands skip over no doubt.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Terminal Nation'?

Stan: To be honest, Terminal Nation is a song by my favorite band Infest. I have honestly wanted to name a band that for like 5 years before we started. It seems very fitting to have a name like that now, more than ever.

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Stan: Lately, here in Little Rock, we have been playing shows with some of the rappers and hip hop artists in the area. Little Rock rapper Goon des Garcons (any of you rap/hip hop fans out there, remember that name) throws a music showcase a few times a year called Fireroom here in Little Rock. The whole show is mainly just rap and hip hop so we are a pretty stark contrast to it. Amazingly enough, the people there have been very open to us playing and into it completely. We also bring our own crowd, and it gets fucking crazy, but everyone really has a good time losing their minds. I think punk/hardcore and rap really have the same attitude and mindset, just different sounds. Those shows always tend to get pretty crazy with a combination of two different crowds. In general our live shows are usually crazy, which is the way we like it. Since we don’t play as often as other bands, each time we play we make it count, trying to push the envelope more so than the last time.

6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

Stan: As of right now, there are no major touring plans for this year. A few of us are taking on some major changes right now, doing some serious ‘adulting’ but the window may open up at some point. We have a few rad fests we’ll be doing this year. We have been doing a lot of weekend warrior stuff over the last few months. If a fest opportunity opens up for us, we always try to make it happen,within reason.

7.The new album is coming out on 'Deep Six Records', are you happy with the support that they have given you so far?

Stan: Absolutely. It’s one of my favorite labels of all time (up there with Slap A Ham, Southern Lord, A389, etc), and I couldn’t be happier. Bob, who runs the operation is totally awesome. He takes a really laid back approach, and I am down with that.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of hardcore and grind?

Stan: Overall, it’s been good. I know the physical copies of our Waste 7” EP have made their way across Europe and Japan, as far as I have seen. That’s really cool to see.

9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

Stan: Musically, only been getting heavier and faster. I am happy with that.

10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Stan: Our influences range from pv bands like Infest/Despise You to stuff like Terrorizer. In the last few releases there was a major hardcore punk vibe but I think that’s slowly started to evolve into more of a metallic style, taking some influence from the older Cleveland bands like Ringworm and Integrity, when it comes to some of the new riffs. As far as what I have been listening to lately, the new Power Trip record is a beast. New Primal Rite record is great. Forged released a 7” a couple of months back, that’s one of the most bad ass EPs I have heard in a while.

11.What are some of your non musical interests?

Stan: I wish I had time to have other interests.

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Stan: Listen to some shit that doesn’t get recognition. Take a chance and check out some band you’ve never heard before. There is a lot of underrated stuff out there. If you need to check out some cool bands, listen to Deadbeat, The JiG, Pissed On, Easy Money, Fissure, Time Walk, No Victory, God’s America, Forged, Sex Prisoner, Piece of Mind, Reserving Dirtnaps, Life as One and plenty more that I am not thinking of at this moment. Thanks a lot for your time, I appreciate it and to everyone reading, : Keep an eye on Terminal Nation because we are doing some cool shit in the near future.